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How important is &quot;service&quot;?

Recently, to celebrate my birthday, Jeremy and I went to La Luncheonette. The meal was nice - nothing spectacular. But what really brought it down a notch was the service. There was only one other table being served, yet the service was slow, disinterested, and cold. By slow, I mean I had to indicate we were ready to order. Disinterested - I had to ask for a water refill. Cold - no eye contact or connection of any sort. I walked away feeling that this was a place I would not return to. Granted, I might feel differently if the quality of the food had knocked my socks off. I am no fan of the overly solicitous style of table waiting, but the fine line between on and off service is one that really affects my experience of a restaurant.

This classic should be in every Southern woman's repertoire. A moist, delicious Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake pleases crowds of all ages, and is the perfect dessert to bring to a neighbor, to a potluck, or to a summer party.

Summer is in full swing, which (hopefully) means trips to the park or the beach. If you’re taking a picnic along, you should know a few food safety rules so you can pack, transport, and eat your meal without the threat of food poisoning. Liz Weinandy